Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel to Retire at End of Year, Michele Harradence Named Next CEO

Enbridge Inc. president and chief executive officer Greg Ebel is shown in this undated handout photo. The Canadian Press/Handout — Enbridge Inc.

The chief executive of Enbridge Inc. is set to retire at year-end, handing the reins to the current head of the energy infrastructure giant’s gas utilities business.

“Few leaders have shaped Enbridge as profoundly as Greg Ebel,” board chair Steve Williams said of the outgoing top boss, who joined Enbridge in 2017 and became its CEO in 2023.

Michele Harradence, executive vice-president and president of gas distribution and storage, will become chief executive effective Jan. 1, while Ebel will continue as an adviser to the board and Harradence from until May 2027.

In a news release, Williams touted Ebel’s role in securing a $41-billion backlog in growth projects, expanding Enbridge’s natural gas platform through acquisitions and strengthening its financial position. Ebel was also key to “advancing Enbridge’s voice on energy security, affordability and competitiveness.”

Ebel came to Enbridge from Spectra Energy, where he had been that company’s president and CEO. Enbridge and Spectra merged in 2017, after which point Ebel became chair of Enbridge’s board until his appointment as CEO.

“As I prepare to retire, I do so with tremendous confidence in Michele, the leadership team and the company’s continued momentum,” Ebel said.

Harradence has led Enbridge’s gas utilities since 2022 and before that was senior vice-president and chief operations officer for Enbridge’s gas transmission and midstream business, based in Houston. Before joining Enbridge in 2014, Harradence held senior executive roles at Shell Canada including general manager of Shell’s Sarnia manufacturing centre in Ontario.

“The board has tremendous confidence in Michele and the experience, judgment and strategic leadership she brings to the role of CEO,” Williams said.

Harradence said she’s honoured the board has placed its trust in her.

“As we look ahead, Enbridge is exceptionally well positioned, with a portfolio of world-class assets, a strong financial foundation and growth opportunities across all our businesses,” she said.

Enbridge ships the lion’s share of Canada’s crude oil production across its vast cross-Canada network that connects to several points south. It has also been growing its natural gas infrastructure and utility footprint in recent years.

“Overall, we view the internal transition as a well-planned leadership succession, supporting strategic continuity for shareholders,” National Bank analyst Patrick Kenny wrote in a note Tuesday.

He noted that about two-thirds of Enbridge’s growth opportunities—$41 billion secured and another $50 billion unsecured—are weighted toward gas.

“Based on Ms. Harradence’s operational, regulatory and customer service experience, we expect her appointment to support continued execution of Enbridge’s growth strategy, particularly across its U.S. gas transmission and utilities businesses.”